Douglas Parker Associates

Douglas Parker Associates is a Research and Development Consultancy with over 30 years experience with blue chip clients in both South Africa and abroad. We specialise in the assessment and evaluation of market potential for commercial ventures. By integrating geo-demographic data with consumer behaviour, attitudes and motivation we have contributed extensively to marketing, retailing and commercial property development strategies for many major clients.

Douglas Parker Associates maintains extensive databases on population demographics, lifestyle patterns, consumer market potentials and retail sales. We also publish a detailed statistical report titled “Towns of South Africa” every five years and compile statistical reports on all the major towns of South Africa which are updated annually. We publish a monthly newsletter titled “The Parker Review” that focuses on the retail and tourism markets. Three separate editions are available for South Africa, New Zealand and International Clients.

The firm has been operating since 1978 and has undertaken over 4,000 research projects. We operate throughout Africa, New Zealand, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean Islands. Clients include most of the major Banks, Insurance Companies, Pension Funds, Oil Companies, Retail Chains, Property Developers and Shopping Centre Managers. Extensive projects have also been conducted for local authorities and Parastatals.

Much of our work entails carrying out market evaluations for shopping centres, resorts, casinos, offices, residential estates and entertainment facilities.

Our major activity, however, is in the retail trade where we have developed a range of specialised research products in store location, branch profit optimization, market segmentation and strategic positioning. The Douglas Parker Associates Consumer Lifestyle Model and Store Assessment Programme are used extensively by the top retailers.

For local authorities we carry out establishment censuses, economic base studies, transport usage patterns, development potentials and opinion surveys. Senior staff have diverse but relevant career experience.